Nigerians still trapped in South Africa in the ongoing xenophobic attacks have been advised to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and to report any threats against them to the Nigerian Mission.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the advice in his address while welcoming the first batch of 258 Nigerians that arrived from South Africa on Thursday, June 11, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The minister stated that the Federal Government will not fold its hands while its citizens are exposed to attacks and harassment wherever they may be in the world, hence taking swift action to return them home.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye assured that the Federal Government remains fully engaged with the South African authorities to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals and to address the root causes of the unfortunate incidents in recent months.
The 258 Nigerian nationals came in through a special evacuation flight operated by Air Peace airline.
The returnees who were escorted by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, led by the Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Temitope Alexander Ajayi, were officially received at the airport by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who represented the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The evacuation process was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, and relevant stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Immigration Service, security agencies, among others.
Addressing the returnees, the minister of state conveyed President Tinubu’s heartfelt greetings, reassuring that the Federal Government remains committed to the safety, security, dignity and welfare of all Nigerian citizens abroad.
He said the president is taking necessary steps through reforms to make the country conducive for everyone.
The minister said he understands the kind of trauma that the returnees might have gone through and encouraged them to feel at home, expressing optimism that God would open doors of opportunity for them in the country.
The minister stated that the evacuation exercise does not signal an acceptance of defeat but underscores the proactive and citizen-centred foreign policy of the Nigerian government.
The minister commended the excellent coordination of the evacuation process by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and disclosed that more flights carrying returnees are expected to arrive in the country in the coming days as the evacuation exercise continues.
He said the ministry believes in diplomacy and dialogue and would continue to tow that path in dealing with issues arising from the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
“At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our job is to manage relations, even under difficult circumstances. We believe in diplomacy, engagement, dialogue and we are confident that in this process, we would continue to engage with South Africa to ensure that our nationals are given better treatment during chaos,” the minister stated.
In his address, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard Doro, assured that the government would do everything possible to ensure that the returnees are fully reintegrated through a smooth process to be undertaken by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and internally Displaced Persons.
He said the Commission is working with relevant government institutions and international partners to ensure that the returnees are properly received, profiled, and reunited with their families.
Doro emphasised that the information gathered from the returnees would guide the government in knowing the kind of support to be given to them in terms of economic empowerment, health/medical assistance and reuniting with their families.
“Profiling is very important. It helps us understand your individual circumstances, your skills, vulnerabilities, family situation and the type of support that you may require,” the Humanitarian Affairs minister told the returnees.
“The information gathered will guide the next steps,” he added.
The Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Temitope Alexander Ajayi, thanked President Tinubu for committing resources to ensure the safe evacuation of Nigerian citizens from South Africa.
The returning nationals are currently undergoing documentation, profiling, and necessary medical checks and will be provided with temporary accommodation before being reunited with their families.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that about 500 Nigerian nationals in South Africa have been cleared to return to Nigeria through evacuated flights operated by Air Peace, fully paid for by the Federal Government.
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